Sealing means for copying machine developer trough

ABSTRACT

A copying machine which includes a developer trough for containing developer liquid through which copy paper is passed and a cover for sealing the trough to prevent evaporation loss or spillage of the developer liquid. The cover is movably mounted between open and closed positions and is operatively associated with an electrical switch and a trip mechanism whereby a cycle of operation of the copying machine is automatically initiated in response to raising the cover to its open position, and the cover is closed and the copying machine stopped automatically at the end of the cycle of operation. In another form, the copying machine has spring loaded feet operatively connected to the cover to lower the cover and seal the developer trough when the copying machine is lifted off of a supporting surface to prevent spillage during transportation.

United States Patent 11 1 Samczyk et al.

1451 Sept. 4, 1973 [75] Inventors: Casimir S. Samczyk, Franklin Park; Paul G. Bielik, North Riverside, both of Ill.

[73] Assignee: Bell & Howell Company, Chicago,

Ill.

[22] Filed: Mar. 20, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 236,015

[52] US. Cl 95/89 R, 118/258, 220/47 [51] Int. Cl. G03d 13/02 [58] Field of Search 95/89 R, 94 R, 95,

[56] References Cited 2,195,033 3/1940 Lehman 220/47 Primary Examiner-Fred L. Braun Attorney.lames M. Wetzel et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A copying machine which includes a developer trough for containing developer liquid through which copy paper is passed and a cover for sealing the trough to prevent evaporation loss or spillage of the developer liquid. The cover is movably mounted between open and closed positions and is operatively associated with an electrical switch and a trip mechanism whereby a cycle of operation of the copying machine is automatically initiated in response to raising the cover to its open position, and the cover is closed and the copying machine stopped automatically at the end of the cycle of operation. In another form, the copying machine has UNITED STATES PATENTS spring loaded feet operatively connected to the cover to lower the cover and seal the developer trough when gg E the copying machine is lifted off ofa supporting surface en 1,001,422 8/1911 McCandless.... 9519s to prevent spmage durmg transportanon' 1,163,782 12/1915 Seckman 220/47 19 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Ei 1 II t I g 18 5 go 25 I 1 34 16 18 28 36 16 I I 22 40a C 0 l- T \\\\\\\I l 1 O I 33 1a 30 I ll 11 2g 5 ////f/A//I 1772 PATENTED SEP 4 I975 SMEEI 1 BF 3 SEALING MEANS FOR COPYING MACHINE DEVELOPER TROUGH BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to photocopying machines and particularly to copying machines wherein copy paper is passed through a developer liquid contained in a developer trough.

In copying machines of the character described wherein developer liquid is utilized for passing copy paper therethrough, and particularly in tabletop or portable machines, two problems normally are encountered in the containment of the developer liquid. First, the developer liquid has a tendency to evaporate, which not only depletes the supply of liquid in the machine but may change the characteristics of the liquid. Second, with tabletop or portable machines, the developer liquid may spill out of the developer trough when the machine is moved from one position to another. This invention is directed to suchcopying machines and particularly to new and improved and automatic sealing means for the machine to prevent evaporation of the developer liquid when the machine is not in use and to prevent spillage of the developer liquid when the machine is transported from one position to another.

An object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide an automatic sealing system for copying machines which employ developer liquid in a developer trough or the like, the sealing system including a cover for the developer trough which is automatically closed to seal the developer trough at the end of a cycle of operation of the machine, and wherein the cycle of operation is automatically started when the cover is raised from the trough to an open position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sealing system wherein the cover for the developer trough is automatically closed when the copyingmachine is lifted off of a supporting surface, such as a tabletop or the like, to prevent spillage during transportation of the machine.

In carrying out the invention, the copying machine includes a framework on which is mounted a developer trough for containing developer liquid through which copy paper or the like is passed. A cover is provided for sealing the developer trough to prevent evaporation loss or spillage of the developer liquid, the cover being movably mounted on the framework for movement between an open position to permit the copy paper to be passed through the trough and a closed position sealing the trough. Switch means actuatable by raising the cover to its open position is provided to start a cycle of operation of the copying machine automatically in response to raising the cover. Trip means is provided to move the cover back from its open position to its closed position automatically at a predetermined point near the end of the cycle of operation of the copying machine whereby lowering movement of the cover again actuates the switch means to start the operation of the copying machine automatically in response to closing the cover onto the developer trough. The cover is spring loaded to be biased toward its closed position and novel over-center linkage is provided to hold the cover against the spring biasing when in its open position during operation of the machine.

As another feature, the developer tray is connected to spring loaded feet which are disposed on the underside of the copying machine, the feet being yieldably mounted so as to move upwardly to a retracted position relative to the framework of the machine when the copying machine is placed on a supporting surface and to move to an extended position when the machine is lifted off of the supporting surface. With such a structure, the feet cause the cover to close when the copying machine is lifted (and the feet are spring biased to their extended position) and to cause the cover to open when the machine is placed onto a supporting surface and the feet are forced to their retracted positions.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a vertical transverse sectional view through a copying machine and illustrating a developer trough sealing system embodying the concepts of the present invention, and taken generally along the line 1-1 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front to rear vertical section taken through the framework of a copying machine and showing in elevation a modified developer trough sealing system, and taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to FIGS. 1 through 4, a copying machine is shown generally to include a framework, generally designated 10, on which is mounted a developer trough 12 (as best seen in FIG. 3) for containing developer liquid 14 through which copy paper C or the like is passed. In general, the copy paper is passed through infeed or transport rollers 16, through the developer liquid 14 in the developer trough l2, and out through drying rollers 18 which are rotatably mounted above a drip trough 20, the copy paper then passing through an aperture 22 in the copying machine framework 10. An image intensifying roller 24 is disposed in the developer tank 12 and beneath which the copy paper is transported. The image intensifying roller also aids in feeding the copy paper through the developer liquid in the developer trough.

A cover 26 is vertically reciprocatably mounted on the framework 10 by a plurality of vertical guide posts 28 for movement between an open position, as shown in FIG. 2, to permit the copy paper C to be passed through the developer trough 12, and a closed position, as shown in FIG. 3, sealing the developer trough 12 to prevent evaporation loss or spillage of the developer liquid 14. A seal 30 may be disposed on the underside of the cover 26 for engagement with flanges 32 extending horizontally outwardly from the developer trough 12. Coil springs 34 are positioned about the mounting guide posts 28 to spring load the cover 26 and urge the cover toward its sealing position as shown in FIG. 3.

In order to raise the cover 26 from its closed position (FIG. 3) against the biasing of springs 34 to its open position (FIG. 2), an eccentric means in the form of an arm 36 is fixed to a rotating shaft 38 which is rotatably mounted on the framework 10. The eccentric arm 36 is connected to the cover 26 by means of U-shaped link members, generally designated 40. The link members 40 each has the end of one leg 40a thereof pivotally connected to the eccentric arm 36 and the end of the other leg 40b thereof pivotally connected to the cover 26. Thus, on rotation of the shaft 38 in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 3), the eccentric arm 36 will rotate with the shaft and cause the U-shaped link members 40 to move to the position shown in FIG. 2, raising the cover 26, and with the shaft 38 disposed within the curvature of the U-shaped link members 40. As can be seen in FIG. 2,,with the cover raised and the U-shaped link members 40 in the position shown, lines passing through th pivot connections of the link members to the eccentric arms 36 and cover 26 as disposed overcenter (to the right in FIG. 2) of the rotating shaft 38, and thereby holds the cover in its raised or open position against the downward biasing of springs 34.

In order to rotate the shaft 38 to raise the cover 26, a manually manipulatable lever arm, generally designated 42, (FIG. 4) is pivoted intermediate its ends, as at 44, to the framework 10. The lever arm 42 has one end 42a provided with a flange 42b for manual manipulation by a user of the machine, particularly to depress the end 42a of the lever arm downwardly in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 4) toward the phantom position shown. The opposite end of the lever arm 42 is provided with an arcuate gear rack 42c concentric to the pivot 44 of the lever arm and in mesh with a gear 46 fixed to the shaft 38 so that the shaft will rotate to open the cover 26 in response to a user pushing down on the lever end 42a, as described above.

Means are provided to start the cycle of operation of the copying machine automatically in response to raising the cover 26 from its closed to its open position. Such means includes a switch, generally designated 48 in FIG. 4, and a cam member 50 fixed for rotation with the shaft 38. As is apparent, rotation of the shaft 38 in the direction of arrow A (F IG. 3) causes the cam member 50 also to move in the same direction, as indicated by arrow C (FIG. 4). The switch 48 has a roller member 52 disposed in the path of rotation of the cam 50 so that when the cam is rotated, as described above, it will engage the roller 52 and actuate the switch 48 to automatically start a cycle of operation of the copying machine as the cover 26 is raised.

Means is provided to move the cover 26 back from its open to its closed positions automatically at a predetermined point in the cycle of operation of the copying machine. More particularly, as is known, many such copying machines employ endless chains or belts to move certain operative components such as a platen which carries the original to be copied. With the invention herein, a pin member 54 (FIG. 4) is mounted on a chain, belt or the like, indicated by the dot-dash line 56, for movement into the path of the flange 42b of the lever arm 42 when the lever arm is in its lower position as shown in phantom, and with the cover raised. As the pin 54 moves with the chain or belt 56 in the direction of arrow D during a cycle of operation of the copying machine, the pin will come into contact or strike the underside of the flange 42b which thereby overcomes the over-center condition of the U-shaped link members 40 so that the springs 34 causes the cover 26 to automatically close at that point during the cycle-of operation of the machine. A spring 58 (FIG. 4) also is provided between the end 42a of the lever arm 32 and the framework of the copying machine to assist the springs 34 and to aid in returning the lever arm 42 back to the position shown in full lines in FIG. 4. As the shaft 38 rotates with the link member 40 during the closing of the cover 26, the cam member 50 will become disengaged from the roller 52 of the switch 48 and break the contacts of the switch to stop the operation of the copying machine automatically in response to closing the cover 26.

FIGS. 5 through 7 show an embodiment wherein means are provided to automatically close the cover for the developer trough automatically when the copying machine is lifted off of a supporting surface 60, such as a tabletop or the like, to prevent spillage of the developer liquid during transportation of the copying machine. Although the configuration of certain of the components are slightly different from comparable components shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, like numerals have been applied where applicable, for clarity purposes. With the apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 through 7, the cover 26 for the developer trough 12 is fixed to a plurality of vertically extending legs 62, two legs on each side of the copying machine. The legs of each pair on opposite sides of the machine are connected to a common shoe or foot means 64 on the underside of the framework 10 whereby the cover 26, legs 62 and shoes 64 comprise a unitary structure for vertically reciprocating movement relative to the framework of the machine. The legs 62 are vertically reciprocatably received in brackets 66 providing guiding support for said unitary structure. In essence, the shoes 64 (and legs 62) thereby are yieldably mounted so as to move upwardly to a retracted position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 relative to the framework of the copying machine when the copying machine is placed on the supporting surface 60, and to move to an extended position as shown in FIG. 7 under gravity and under the biasing of springs 68 which surround the legs 62 when the machine is lifted off of the supporting structure. With the cover 26 rigidly fixed to the legs 62, the cover will move therewith to a sealing position on top of the developer trough 12 as shown in FIG. 7 when the machine is lifted and transported, thereby preventing spillage of the developer liquid 14. When the machine is repositioned on a supporting structure, the shoes 64 and legs 62 will be forced upwardly or retracted and thereby raise the cover 26 to its open position.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim: I

1. In a copying machine which includes a framework on which is mounted a developer trough for containing developer liquid through which copy paper or the like is passed, a cover for sealing said trough to prevent evaporation loss or spillage of the developer liquid, said cover being movably mounted on said framework for movement between an open position to permit the copy paper to be passed through the trough and a closed position sealing said trough, and means to start a cycle of operation of said copying machine automatically in response to raising said cover from its closed to its open positions.

2. The copying machine of claim 1 wherein said means for starting a cycle of operation of said copying machine is adapted to effect termination of the cycle of operation of said copying machine automatically in response to closing said cover onto said trough.

3. The copying machine of claim 1 including means to automatically move said cover from its open to its closed position at a predetermined point in the cycle of operation of the copying machine.

4. The copying machine of claim 3 wherein said means for starting a cycle of operation of said copying machine is adapted to effect termination of the cycle operation of said copying machine automatically in response to closing said cover onto said trough.

5. The copying machine of claim 1 including an eccentric means mounted on a shaft rotatably mounted on said framework, said eccentric means being connected to said cover to raise the cover to its open position on rotation of said shaft, and wherein said means to start a cycle of operation of said copying machine is actuated by rotation of said shaft.

6. The copying machine of claim 5 including cam means mounted for rotation with said shaft, and wherein said means to start a cycle of operation of said copying machine includes a switch actuated by said cam means to start a cycle of operation of the copying machine on raising said cover to its open position and stopping said cycle of operation when said cover is lowered to its closed position.

7. The copying machine of claim 6 including a manually manipulatable lever arm pivoted intermediate its ends to said framework, one end of said arm being exposed for manipulation by a user of the machine and the other end thereof having an arcuate gear rack concentric with the pivot axis of said lever arm and in mesh with complementary gear means on said shaft to rotate said shaft in response to pivoting said lever arm.

8. The copying machine of claim 5 including linkage means connecting said eccentric means and said cover and comprising an over-center connection therebetween When said cover is in its open position.

9. The copying machine of claim 8 wherein said cover is spring loaded for biasing said cover toward its closed position when the over-center condition of said linkage means is overcome on rotation of said shaft.

10. The copying machine of claim 8 wherein said linkage means comprises a U-shaped member having the end of one leg thereof pivotally connected to said eccentric means and the end of the other leg thereof pivotally connected to said cover, with said shaft being disposed within the curvature of the U-shaped member when the cover is in its open position with a line passing through the pivot connections of the U-shaped member being over-center relative to the axis of rotation of the shaft.

11. In a copying machine which includes a framework on which is mounted a developer trough for containing developer liquid through which copy paper or the like is passed, a cover for sealing said trough to prevent spillage of the developer liquid, said cover being movably mounted on said framework for movement between an open position permitting the copy paper to be passed through the trough and a closed position sealing the trough, the improvement comprising means to automatically close said cover when said copying machine is lifted off of a supporting structure to prevent spillage of the developer liquid during transportation of the machine.

12. The copying machine of claim 11 wherein said means for automatically closing said cover is adapted to maintain said cover in its open position when the machine rests on said supporting structure.

13. The copying machine of claim 11 wherein said means for automatically closing said cover includes feet means on the underside of said framework and connected to said cover, said feet means being yieldably mounted so as to move upwardly to a retracted po sition relative to said framework when the copying machine is placed on said supporting structure and to move to an extended position when the machine is lifted off of said supporting structure, said feet means being connected to said cover in such a manner as to close the cover when the feet means moves to said extended position.

14. The copying machine of claim 13 wherein said feet means is connected to said cover in such a manner as to raise the cover to its open position when the feet means moves to said retracted position.

15. The copying machine of claim 14 including biasing means to urge said feet means to said extended po sition.

16. In a copying machine which includes a framework on which is mounted a developer trough for containing developer liquid through which copy paper or the like is passed, a cover for sealing said trough to prevent eveporation loss or spillage of the developer liquid, said cover being movably mounted on said framework for movement between an open position to permit the copy paper to be passed through the trough and a closed position sealing said trough, an eccentric means mounted on a shaft rotatably mounted on said framework, said eccentric means being connected to said cover to raise the cover to its open position on rotation of said shaft, and linkage means connecting said eccentric means and said cover and comprising an over-center connection therebetween when said cover is in its open position.

17. The copying machine of claim 16 wherein said cover is spring loaded for biasing said cover toward its closed position when the over-center condition of said linkage means is overcome on rotation of said shaft.

18. The copying machine of claim 17 wherein said linkage means comprises a U-shaped member having the end of one leg thereof pivotally connected to said eccentric means and the end of the other leg thereof pivotally connected to said cover, with said shaft being disposed within the curvature of the U-shaped member when the cover is in its open position with a line passing through the pivot connections of the U-shaped member being over-center relative to the axis of rotation of the shaft.

19. In a copying machine which includes a framework on which is mounted a developer trough for containing developer liquid through which copy paper or the like is passed, a cover for sealing said trough to prevent evaporation loss or spillage of the developer liquid, said cover being movably mounted on said framework for movement between an open position to permit the copy paper to be passed through the trough and a closed position sealing said trough, and means to stop the operation of said copying machine automatically in response to closing said cover onto said trough.

* I. III I i 

1. In a copying machine which includes a framework on which is mounted a developer trough for containing developer liquid through which copy paper or the like is passed, a cover for sealing said trough to prevent evaporation loss or spillage of the developer liquid, said cover being movably mounted on said framework for movement between an open position to permit the copy paper to be passed through the trough and a closed position sealing said trough, and means to start a cycle of operation of said copying machine automatically in response to raising said cover from its closed to its open positions.
 2. The copying machine of claim 1 wherein said means for starting a cycle of operation of said copying machine is adapted to effect termination of the cycle of operation of said copying machine automatically in response to closing said cover onto said trough.
 3. The copying machine of claim 1 including means to automatically move said cover from its open to its closed position at a predetermined point in the cycle of operation of the copying machine.
 4. The copying machine of claim 3 wherein said means for starting a cycle of operation of said copying machine is adapted to effect termination of the cycle operation of said copying machine automatically in response to closing said cover onto said trough.
 5. The copying machine of claim 1 including an eccentric means mounted on a shaft rotatably mounted on said framework, said eccentric means being connected to said cover to raise the cover to its open position on rotation of said shaft, and wherein said means to start a cycle of operation of said copying machine is actuated by rotation of said shaft.
 6. The copying machine of claim 5 including cam means mounted for rotation with said shaft, and wherein said means to start a cycle of operation of said copying machine includes a switch actuated by said cam means to start a cycle of operation of the copying machine on raising said cover to its open position and stopping said cycle of operation when said cover is lowered to its closed position.
 7. The copying machine of claim 6 including a manually manipulatable lever arm pivoted intermediate its ends to said framework, one end of said arm being exposed for manipulation by a user of the machine and the other end thereof having an arcuate gear rack concentric with the pivot axis of said lever arm and in mesh with complementary gear means on said shaft to rotate said shaft in response to pivoting said lever arm.
 8. The copying machine of claim 5 including linkage means connecting said eccentric means and said cover and comprising an over-center connection therebetween when said cover is in its open position.
 9. The copying machine of claim 8 wherein said cover is spring loaded for biasing said cover toward its closed position when the over-center condition of said linkage means is overcome on rotation of said shaft.
 10. The copying machine of claim 8 wherein said linkage means comprises a U-shaped member having the end of one leg thereof pivotally connected to said eccentric means and the end of the other leg thereof pivotally connected to said cover, with said shaft being disposed within the curvature of the U-shaped member when the cover is in its open position with a line passing through the pivot connections of the U-shaped member being over-center relative to the axis of rotation of the shaft.
 11. In a copying machine which includes a framework on which is mounted a developer trough for containing developer liquid through which copy paper or the like is passed, a cover for sealing said trough to prevent spillage of the developer liquid, said cover being movably mounted on said framework for movement between an open position permitting the copy paper to be passed through the trough and a closed position sealing the trough, the improvement comprising means to automatically close said cover when said copying machine is lifted off of a supporting structure to prevent spillage of the developer liquid during transportation of the machine.
 12. The copying machine of claim 11 wherein said means for automatically closing said cover is adapted to maintain said cover in its open position when the machine rests on said supporting structure.
 13. The copying machine of claim 11 wherein said means for automatically closing said cover includes feet means on the underside of said framework and connected to said cover, said feet means being yieldably mounted so as to move upwardly to a retracted position relative to said framework when the copying machine is placed on said supporting structure and to move to an extended position when the machine is lifted off of said supporting structure, said feet means being connected to said cover in such a manner as to close the cover when the feet means moves to said extended position.
 14. The copying machine of claim 13 wherein said feet means is connected to said cover in such a manner as to raise the cover to its open position when the feet means moves to said retracted position.
 15. The copying machine of claim 14 including biasing means to urge said feet means to said extended position.
 16. In a copying machine which includes a framework on which is mounted a developer trough for containing developer liquid through which copy paper or the like is passed, a cover for sealing said trough to prevent Eveporation loss or spillage of the developer liquid, said cover being movably mounted on said framework for movement between an open position to permit the copy paper to be passed through the trough and a closed position sealing said trough, an eccentric means mounted on a shaft rotatably mounted on said framework, said eccentric means being connected to said cover to raise the cover to its open position on rotation of said shaft, and linkage means connecting said eccentric means and said cover and comprising an over-center connection therebetween when said cover is in its open position.
 17. The copying machine of claim 16 wherein said cover is spring loaded for biasing said cover toward its closed position when the over-center condition of said linkage means is overcome on rotation of said shaft.
 18. The copying machine of claim 17 wherein said linkage means comprises a U-shaped member having the end of one leg thereof pivotally connected to said eccentric means and the end of the other leg thereof pivotally connected to said cover, with said shaft being disposed within the curvature of the U-shaped member when the cover is in its open position with a line passing through the pivot connections of the U-shaped member being over-center relative to the axis of rotation of the shaft.
 19. In a copying machine which includes a framework on which is mounted a developer trough for containing developer liquid through which copy paper or the like is passed, a cover for sealing said trough to prevent evaporation loss or spillage of the developer liquid, said cover being movably mounted on said framework for movement between an open position to permit the copy paper to be passed through the trough and a closed position sealing said trough, and means to stop the operation of said copying machine automatically in response to closing said cover onto said trough. 